Inside Lacrosse's Terry Foy caught up with BU Deputy Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello about 10 days ago for an update on the Terriers' search for its first men's lacrosse coach. Marrochello opted not to discuss specific candidates, but did say the university and athletic department hoped to make a decision and potentially an announcement by June 15.

IL: Can you outline the steps that have already been completed toward the coaching search and update the process?

BU: The thing that takes the most time is not the interview process, not the logistical arrangement, but the background check. We have been turning over a lot of rocks, learning a lot about the sport and trying to examine a fit for BU. There are many great coaches, but we are looking for someone who understands the campus life, the makeup of the department, how we fit within the city, the academic side of BU. We are looking for someone who is a good fit.

A lot [of the process] was following up on leads and taking leads from other people. We have been acting as our own search firm and learning a lot of the background of the players and the sport. We are at the point, narrowing it down to a list of people, that has been going on for about a month and a half to two months. In the last two weeks, we have hit the road, talking to candidates, continuing to follow up on leads. We're shooting for the announcement made by the middle of June. We think it's more important to have the right person in place in 2016 than to rush just to make a high-profile announcement on Memorial Day Weekend. We're past the exploration point and into face-to-face conversation, most likely bringing three people to campus sometime in June.

IL: You mentioned decision-making criteria. What is the type of identity that you envision for this program that you think the coach will ultimately dictate?

BU: We are looking for someone to be a leader and educator, someone who models great behavior and someone who understands high expectations for decorum. High expectations on the field and high expectations in the classroom. Looking for someone to come in and run the program accordingly, paying attention to all of those facets. There's no joy in a season where you win a few games and lose a bunch of games, no joy in people not performing well in the classroom, no joy in outside phone calls about incidents that happen on campus or off campus by student-athletes.

Joy is when you can bring together a winning program and a GPA that is commensurate with the student population — if it doesn’t exceed a representative student-athlete on campus — and people that are modeling citizenship and involved with community. Our program has done really, really well. We have people who model good behavior, people who perform in the classroom and play at a high level. Good coaches care for how their students comport themselves. There is an expectation with the men’s lacrosse program that will follow accordingly.

In terms of identity — this is a marquee program, this is a program that is transformative, it is going to be a spectator sport in which we plan on playing at the highest level. I think the men’s lacrosse coach will have a special place on campus. The lacrosse community is a small community, and our lacrosse coach is expected to engage the community, city and campus. He's expected to run a good, clean, winning program with student-athletes that we are proud of, which is a hallmark at BU.

IL: What has been the candidates' reaction to the pitch BU can make?

BU: It is going to take a special person to take this opportunity. Because some view it as an expansion program, some [candidates] say they don’t have the energy to build it right now. With that, my response has been I can't convince you to have the energy, if you don’t have the excitement, then you are not the person for us. That is OK — there are a lot of good jobs around the country. We are examining the fit for us while they are examining the fit for them. It is an interview process which, if done correctly, can be a good two-way street so we can find someone who understands who we are and you need to portray who you are going to be during the interview process.

We have been exposed to good people, but we are looking for someone who understands that this is a building process and has the vision to take you through the process, not someone who needs convincing.

Our women’s ice hockey program is a wonderful model — that program went from being added as DI team to being in the Frozen Four in six years. I look at that and I hope that shows BU’s commitment; not putting a timetable on lacrosse, but at the same time from an outside view, BU has shown success on building a program and building it relatively quickly.

IL: What is your familiarity with lacrosse? Have you worked closely with lacrosse at the varsity level?

BU: Not at the DI level. In many ways, that has not been a weakness because an administrator is not involved with X’s and O’s; they are providing support, laying foundation, understanding pitfalls and seeing the big picture. You don’t need someone familiar with lacrosse. We know the upside and landscape so I would say that it hasn’t been a negative that we have had to learn about lacrosse, which has been a positive.

IL: What has been your reaction to what you have learned about candidates inquiring about what resources BU will make available?

BU: I'm not familiar with the micro systems, but familiar with the landscape. I have been keeping up on not only the fastest growing sport, but also the revenue side and salary side of the sport. I think that there are programs that are paying coaches more; not an arms race, but there are historical programs who think they can be on ESPN three weekends and be on during Memorial Day. People want to know that there is a level of support. What I have said about the coach or potential coach is that is a very appropriate question — why would you take a job if you didn’t think you would be supported? We are interested in the competitive aspect of it. Coaches want to succeed and programs want to succeed because there is a little bit of risk with it being a new program. I think they are doing their homework and I commend them for that.

IL: Are you surprised by the coaches' knowledge?

BU: No, it is a very informed population and that is good. At the same time, we have been informed and are ready. We have been through searches before, combed the landscape and it is a relative process.

IL: BU is in an emerging hotbed of the sport and sports in Boston is a very proud thing. Is there a regional element in your search that has Boston ties in any way, whether it is an advantage or disadvantage?

BU: I wouldn’t say directly. People should know the landscape, but it's not a prerequisite to have been involved or gone to school in Boston. But like we say with all of our positions, people need to be familiar with their surroundings and it is an advantage to know what campus is like, what Nickerson Field is like and know what the city life is like. Those are advantages, but definitely not prerequisites. Having the local aspect would be an added benefit. Whether they are from the area or outside the area, the person will be extremely entrenched within the city.

IL: Any names you would like to mention to give insight to lacrosse fans in the direction you are headed?

BU: The lacrosse world is wonderfully helpful and people are interested in the sport continuing to grow and be exposed. People by and large know the good coaches and who you should be talking to. Common names pop up on the list, I would say we have relied on people and we have told them we want them to know they can speak freely to help and inform us. I am not comfortable giving names but the lacrosse community is close-knit and it is great to see it and we look forward to being part of it.